Prison realignment does bring increase in crime: Letter

The conclusions drawn in the story were misleading. The study cited was conducted by a pro-prisoner, anti-incarceration organization whose findings have been disputed by law enforcement leaders who witnessed how a mass shift of parolees and prisoners from state supervision to the overburdened counties has resulted in increased crime.

Since 19,000 offenders were shifted to probation supervision in Los Angeles County, 24,742 arrests were made for new offenses — some offenders were arrested multiple times. Additionally, more than 530 inmates are sentenced to serve between five and 42 years in county jail.

In January 2013, the FBI preliminary report for 2012 showed across-the-board increases in crime in California after six straight years of decreases. In the latter half of 2013, reports from the FBI and the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California documented statewide increases in property crime of 7.4 percent and violent crime of 3.7 percent in 2012. Some counties suffered much higher violent crime rates. Violent crime in San Diego County jumped by 8.8 percent; Orange County by more than 9 percent; Sacramento County by 8.5 percent, and Contra Costa County by 12.6 percent.

More than 18,000 offenders who would be behind bars are free because of early releases or jail diversion programs. In Los Angeles County, the most serious and violent offenders are serving less than 40 percent of their sentences — closer to 20 percent with good-time and work-time credits. For parole violators, realignment cut their maximum parole revocation period from one year in state prison to six months in county jail, but most serve only a few days due to overcrowding. Law enforcement leaders agree that realignment has played a significant role in increasing crime rates.

The negative consequences of realignment are real and will continue to threaten public safety statewide.

— Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles The letter writer represents the 5th District on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors